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Strong lead performances and catchy musical interludes rescue this coming-of-age story from its formulaic script and uneven direction.
All Critics (85) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (33) | DVD (8)
Too predictable. Apr 3, 2006
Too predictable.
Richard Roeper
It's something akin to the earlier films of Spike Lee -- She's Gotta Have It and Crooklyn come to mind -- in that the characters are cherished for their human qualities, not for how well they swagger onto the screen. Mar 31, 2006 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
It's something akin to the earlier films of Spike Lee -- She's Gotta Have It and Crooklyn come to mind -- in that the characters are cherished for their human qualities, not for how well they swagger onto the screen.
Peter Howell
Warner Bros.' low-budget stab at capturing an urban niche audience is higher on stylistic dazzle than originality or coherence, making it an unlikely candidate to bust out of the box office ghetto. Mar 31, 2006
Warner Bros.' low-budget stab at capturing an urban niche audience is higher on stylistic dazzle than originality or coherence, making it an unlikely candidate to bust out of the box office ghetto.
Justin Chang
For a run-of-the-mill hip-hop drama, ATL has some engaging hooks that set it apart from the predictable formula of urban youth struggling to steer clear of crime and pull themselves up to a better life. Mar 31, 2006 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
For a run-of-the-mill hip-hop drama, ATL has some engaging hooks that set it apart from the predictable formula of urban youth struggling to steer clear of crime and pull themselves up to a better life.
Ted Fry
The film's special appeal is that while the boys are poor and black, their stories transcend race and socio-economic matters. Mar 31, 2006 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
The film's special appeal is that while the boys are poor and black, their stories transcend race and socio-economic matters.
Ruthe Stein
Making his feature-film debut, music-video director Chris Robinson expertly choreographs the skating sequences, which are exhilarating fun. Mar 31, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4
Making his feature-film debut, music-video director Chris Robinson expertly choreographs the skating sequences, which are exhilarating fun.
Carrie Rickey
Amateur camera work and conspicuous plotting reduce the film's regional sensibilities to sleep-inducing pap. Apr 20, 2009 | Rating: D | Full Review…
Amateur camera work and conspicuous plotting reduce the film's regional sensibilities to sleep-inducing pap.
Cole Smithey
A tip of the cap to Tip Harris and Lauren London for it is their chemistry and charm which allows one to believe in their tenderhearted romance in an atmosphere where women are regarded as objects and affectionately called 'bitches' and 'hos.' Feb 20, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
A tip of the cap to Tip Harris and Lauren London for it is their chemistry and charm which allows one to believe in their tenderhearted romance in an atmosphere where women are regarded as objects and affectionately called 'bitches' and 'hos.'
Kam Williams
A well-meaning and good-hearted urban melodrama -- that doesn't really seem to have anything new to say. Jul 25, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…
A well-meaning and good-hearted urban melodrama -- that doesn't really seem to have anything new to say.
Scott Weinberg
I liked ATL for its music and for its all-around good intentions and general amiability. But.... Jul 20, 2006 | Rating: 5/10 | Full Review…
I liked ATL for its music and for its all-around good intentions and general amiability. But....
John J. Puccio
A contradictory approach ultimately muddles the film despite some heartfelt and evocative moments about youngsters growing up on the streets of Atlanta. Jun 12, 2006
A contradictory approach ultimately muddles the film despite some heartfelt and evocative moments about youngsters growing up on the streets of Atlanta.
Todd Jorgenson
The film that proves that all life's problems can be solved with a montage. Jun 3, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
The film that proves that all life's problems can be solved with a montage.
Peter Sobczynski
A New American Story The movie was good and it had it's good moments. The story is not that great but decent enough. The acting was so-so from everyone, still entertaining and it pass really quickly. The attitudes, style and environment puts you right on the streets down south and that's why it was good. A tightly knit group of working-class Atlanta teens spend their time bonding over hip-hop and roller skating while pondering life after high school in director Chris Robinson's coming-of-age comedy drama that draws inspirations from the real-life childhoods of Dallas Austin and Tionne Watkins. For a kid growing up on the south side of Atlanta, the Cascade roller-skating rink is the place to be seen, and it's the place where the orphaned high school senior Rashad (Tip Harris) and his little brother Ant (Evan Ross) go every weekend to forget their financial troubles, hang with their friends and get their groove on. But outside the rink, the brothers have problems they can't avoid: Ant is being recruited into the posse of charismatic drug dealer Marcus (Outkast's Antwan Andre Patton, aka Big Boi). Meanwhile, Rashad's three best friends -- including the ambitious Esquire (Jackie Long) -- are pulling him in different directions, and his new girlfriend New-New (Lauren London) may not be as "street" as she seems. As Rashad tries to hold on to his little brother, he also comes to the realization that if he's ever going to make something of himself, he's going to have to step out of his skates and into the real world.
Super Reviewer
The movie is okay, as it tells the story of life through the eyes of some ATL hood residents. It's entertaining to see the differences between neighborhoods, and follow the life of the people in the movie - but the movie seemed to forget a moral? You can make up your own, but there really was just no major point in it. It started strong, then kept going and going until an end where it ended up just the same as the beginning? Maybe, "Apperciate what you have, it could be all you ever will have". Fun to watch, but obvious loss potential makes you wonder what it could of been.
I didn't know rollerskating had such a big influence on Atlanta. TI shows great potential, Big Boi puts on the best performance.
Its All Good ^_^
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